Toy manufacturer Smoby held its general meeting today. One year after the attacks of September 11, the company claims to have suffered the counter-blow. Therefore the forecasts are cautious, the expected increase would be less important. And in this context, the group is pursuing a policy of refocusing activities. 50 new products appear in the catalogue this year. To remain on the European market, almost all of the group’s companies are beneficiaries, except MONNERET, which has a loss of €400,000, whose restructuring was announced today. MONNERET disappears by becoming a subsidiary of Smoby. According to the group’s managers, there are no threats to employment. The Lons site employs about 300 people. Statement by Jean-Christophe BREUIL and Dany BREUIL
The President of the Republic François Mitterrand during his trip to the jura visited the company Smoby. He praised the conversion work undertaken by a wooden toy craft company that was once struggling and is now flourishing.
The French group Smoby has just signed an agreement with MGA, the world’s number 3 toy company, after several months of crisis and the threat for the 1300 employees to lose their jobs. This contract will also allow the French company to enter the American market. Comment on illustration images, alternating with the statement of Jean Christophe BREUIL, CEO of the Smoby group, and the interview of Gilles RIZZI, CGT delegate.
The commercial court has chosen SIMBA as the buyer of Smoby with more than 500 people who will be fired. Pierre Gamonet, FO shop steward, deplores above all the dismissal of the 500 people. Gilles Rizzi, CGT shop steward, notes that their recommendations were not followed. Rodolphe Tarnaud, President of Abcia, another buyer not retained by the court, wishes good luck to the buyer, although he regrets this choice. Michaël Sieber, President of Simba-Dickie group, wants to motivate the remaining employees and reassure customers.
Smoby toys will be made in Mexico for global toy giant Mattel. It is this historic agreement that was signed with Arthur Spear, CEO of Mattel and Jean Pierre Breuil, director of Smoby. Dany Breuil explains that all precautions have been taken to ensure that Smoby remains a winner in the transaction. For Athur Spear, it’s not David versus Goliath, but Goliath with Goliath.
The company Smoby expands, with the acquisition of 2 companies to allow it to consolidate its presence in Europe. Dany Breuil, CEO, details Smoby’s latest two acquisitions and the group’s future prospects.
The toys Monneret in difficulty with 21 million francs deficit was bought by Smoby which holds 51% of the capital of the world leader in table football. According to Dany Breuil, CEO of Smoby, this acquisition will allow Smoby to open up to certain markets where it was not present. The company may retain all employees.
At Smoby, social promotion is not an empty word. 10 out of 12 executives come from internal promotion. Raymond FAVIER who started at 14 years old in the company invented 15 of the 139 machines used by it.
The French plastic toy is manufactured in the Jura and more precisely in Lavans lès Saint Claude. Here the toys are tested by kindergarten children before being put on the market. In this company, the toys are manufactured from A to Z, from the design to the manufacture of the molds then to the packaging and shipping. Dany Breuil (product manager): considers that toys produced in France are more suitable for children than those made abroad.
Four years after his takeover by Simba, Smoby was reborn after having come close to disaster. Today we are expanding storage capacity, relocating production and continuing to invest. Interview with Thomas Le Paul CEO Smoby Toys France
Catherine Lalumière, Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs visited the toy company Moquin-Breuil (Smoby brand) in Lavans lès Saint Claude in the Jura. André Gueugnot, designer, describes his work. The growing company practices social promotion and participation as explained by Jean Pierre Breuil, the director. Catherine Lalumière wants to prove that the manufacture of the toy can very well be done in France.